'We want food, work and fairness' protesters told to chantEgypt-style get-togethes planned for 13 citiesWord 'jasmine' blocked on most popular social network site

Chinese
authorities moved quickly and with force to quash a pro-democracy
'Jasmine Revolution', believed to have been inspired by the recent
uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa.

More police than
usual were scrambled to line the streets today, and there were a number
of activists detained after online sites had organised staged protests
in Beijing, Shanghai and 11 other major cities.

Citizens were
urged to shout: 'We want food, we want work, we want housing, we want
fairness' - a slogan that highlights common complaints among ordinary
Chinese.